Journal of ambulatory care marketing最新文献

The growing elderly market in the United States has spawned a number of studies examining different aspects of the elderly market such as their expenditure patterns, healthcare needs, attitudinal types, etc. One of the least studied areas in this field is the transportation of the elderly to their primary health care facilities. This study was undertaken to assess the likelihood of adoption by the elderly of two proposed transportation alternatives by a hospital in a major metropolitan area: a shuttle service and an escort service. The receptivity to the proposed new service was hypothesized to differ across age subsegments among the elderly. Five-hundred and fifty-three elderly, selected at random, were studied in telephone interviews. The results show that the escort service was received more favorably than the shuttle service and the 75+ age group was the most receptive to the two services. The 71-75 age group appeared to be the least receptive to the proposed services.

Changes are rampant in the healthcare industry. Some are economically driven while others occur because of revisions in the national health policy, mandates of third party payors to alter reimbursement policies, and efforts of consumers to influence health professional's practices. As a result, healthcare institutions must monitor the quality and the cost effectiveness of their product. Yet, implementing a Quality Assurance (QA) program necessitates numerous changes on the part of all who work within an institution. A healthcare organization's leaders must have the ability to respond rapidly to the domino effects of change. For some institutions, this may mean modifying a long-standing infrastructure, purchasing new biotechnology, reorganizing staffing patterns, or revising management practices. Hence, it is important for health care providers to understand the change process. Likewise, health professionals should be aware of, and anticipate the potential responses to change. Because humans are motivated by different forces, there is need for a repertoire of strategies to address these individual needs. Ultimately, these efforts can facilitate the implementation of change. Overview of the Content: In this submission I will define common terms associated with change theory. This is followed by an overview of Lewin's and Rogers' theories of change. Subsequently, the models are applied to a household innovation (microwave oven). Finally, strategies to implement changes, specifically QA activities, are provided for the reader's consideration. The information herein is useful for management, education, as well as hypothesis development relative to research on change in healthcare.

Shifting environmental pressures have moved healthcare organizations to look to new products and services as a means of survival. One new product offering that has developed in many hospitals is the senior care program. Unfortunately, many of the senior care programs developed across the nation have not been successful. The authors have described a senior care program that is research based and physician centered. The benefits of which include physician loyalty to the hospital, a managed referral network and the ability to measure the impact of the senior care program on the bottom line.

This empirical study examines the health care coverage climate of 130 large and medium sized companies in New England. Human resource managers and/or benefits managers were asked to compare the plans that they currently offer their employees on a number of points. The primary focus was in the area of cost and cost containment. An attempt is made to identify the cost containment trends that are now a very high priority among employers.

This paper examines the role of market research in the decision process used to invest in continuing care retirement centers (CCRCs). Given changing demographics and the availability of financing, there has been a rapid increase in the number of CCRCs that are being developed. However, a large number of these centers have either failed or are experiencing financial difficulty. Some industry participants have blamed poor or inadequate market research as a factor contributing to the failure of many centers to meet expectations. This paper discusses how the process used to invest in centers and how the motivations of the different actors in the investment decision can influence the role and use of market research. Recommendations are suggested for how industry investors can better understand and use market research in the decision to invest in a retirement center.

Pharmaceutical salespeople are important sources of information for physicians about new and existing drugs. This study examines the relative impact of various source characteristics (i.e., expertise, trustworthiness and attractiveness) on physicians' satisfaction with the salesperson as an information source. The results suggest that although perceived expertise and trustworthiness are significant predictors of satisfaction, attractiveness is not. Implications are offered.

The convergent validity and scale reliability of three measures of Reference Price (R-Price) were assessed for a "new" healthcare service using an adult sample. The Pearson correlation, Cronbach's alpha and Factor analysis results indicate that the multiple scale R-Price measure exhibits both reliability and convergent validity. As a result, the R-price scale could be used as an additional input for estimating demand of a healthcare service at a given price. The paper also draws some managerial implications for healthcare professionals.

Mammography has become a vital tool for the early detection of breast cancer. Although many organizations and health care facilities are working to educate and motivate women to take advantage of the life saving opportunity that is offered through screening mammography, only twenty percent of women who should be screened actually have the procedure performed. In order to reach women who have not been screened, it is important to learn which factors most strongly motivate those women who do choose to have a mammogram. Depth interviews with 18 women attending a mobile mammography unit were conducted to explore the decision making process of women obtaining mammography screening services and to develop a profile of prevalent emotions, attitudes, and feelings associated with receiving breast cancer screening services. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several important themes to which health care professionals can direct marketing and health promotion strategies.